An inhibitor of Dopa Decarboxylase
(
One of the Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases, this enzyme is responsible for the conversion of dopa to dopamine. It is of clinical importance in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
),
preventing conversion of Levodopa to dopamine. It is used in Parkinson Disease to reduce
peripheral adverse effects of Levodopa. It has no antiparkinson actions by itself.
Parkinson Disease
A progressive, degenerative neurologic disease characterized by a tremor that is maximal at rest,
retropulsion (i.e. a tendency to fall backwards), rigidity, stooped posture, slowness of
voluntary movements, and a masklike facial expression. Pathologic features include loss
of melanin containing neurons in the substantia nigra and other pigmented nuclei of the
brainstem. Lewy bodies are present in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus but may
also be found in a related condition
characterized by dementia in combination with varying degrees of parkinsonism.
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Tremor
Cyclical movement of a body part that can represent either a physiologic process or a
manifestation of disease. Intention or action tremor, a common manifestation of
Cerebellar Diseases, is aggravated by movement. In contrast, resting tremor is maximal when
there is no attempt at voluntary movement,
and occurs as a relatively frequent manifestation of Parkinson Disease.
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Articles]
Pharmacologic Action
Antiparkinson Agent
Agents used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The most commonly used drugs act on the dopaminergic system in the striatum and basal ganglia or are centrally acting muscarinic antagonists.
Dopamine Agent
Any drugs that are used for their effects on dopamine receptors, on the life cycle of dopamine, or on the survival of dopaminergic neurons.
Enzyme Inhibitor
Compounds or agents that combine with an enzyme in such a manner as to prevent the normal substrate-enzyme combination and the catalytic reaction.
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03 Jul 2008
Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease
Dopaminergic replacement therapy with levodopa/carbidopa is still the cornerstone for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the medical management of PD is complicated by the appearance of disabling motor response fluctuations, levodopa-induced dyskinesias and psychosis.
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Pharmacological treatments of Parkinson's disease
Antiparkinsonian agents applied or under the investigation for the treatment of patients
with Parkinson's disease were reviewed. Tremor, akinesia, rigidity and postual instability
are key signs of Parkinson's disease. The most important one is akinesia, which includes
decreased
spontaneous locomotor activity, slowness of movement, awkwardness and freezing.
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